Amelia Johnson: Food and Lifestyle Photographer

Category Archives: Things I’m Lovin’

What a crazy-busy month! It always takes a week or so for January to get rolling, but once it did this year, I was back to back with work. Just the way I like it! Here are a few things that have got me through the busy month.

1. Za’atar from the Palestinian tent, Global Village, Dubai

An old Palestinian lady behind a stall at the back of the Palestinian tent looked up at me smiling as she handed over a fresh piece of pitta, dipped in olive oil, and then covered with her lemony fresh za’atar. She handed me piece after piece, with different za’atars on to try. I selected the ones I want and when I asked for 200 grams she laughed: as most spice sellers do when I ask for my tidily western quantities. This Za’atar is out of this world good. Za’atar blends can be a bit dusty- particularly if they’re too heavy on the thyme. This one is heavy on the sesame seeds and sumac. I asked a Lebanese friend where the best place to buy Za’atar is in Dubai and she agreed with me. Here’s the link for more info about Global Village.

2. Unroll me

Until 2 weeks ago I would wake up to at least 30 newsletters in my inbox every morning. Then I saw a friend tweet about this amazing website. I was very pessimistic. A promise to get rid of all my unwanted subscriptions to newsletters? In 2 minutes? Impossible. I was wrong. Five minutes later, I’d set my email up with them and received a promise that I wouldn’t get any more emails from companies I unsubscribed from. And I didn’t. I’ve spent hours previously unsubscribing one by one, email by email. This service is amazing. And free at the moment!

3. Wingsters

Shameless plug, but nonetheless a very well deserved one, for my friend Ahmed and his amazing Wingsters restaurant in the Marina, Dubai. Ahmed has opened Dubai’s first themed mobster-style Buffalo wings restaurant. As someone who has visited the city of Buffalo wings, where they were invented, over ten times, I feel qualified to tell you that these are the real deal. For the daring amongst you, he’s running an ‘initiation‘ – a challenge only the hardest of chilli lovers should take on to confront his spiciest sauces and come out alive on the other side. Succeed and you’ll earn your photograph on the wall of fame. For those less adventurous the Buffalo wings rock my world. His make-your-own milkshakes are pretty darn good too. Not to mention how good his food photography is…. 😉

4. Frying Pan Adventures

I met Arva, who runs Frying Pan Adventures in December and as soon as I met her I knew I had to join one of her tours. I went on the ‘Arabian Food Pilgrimage’. I can’t wait for my Mum to visit again so I can take her on this, and then follow it a few days later with the ‘Little India on a Plate’ tour. From start to finish Arva’s energy and enthusiasm for the food and history of the region was infectious. Although we didn’t cover a large distance physically, in food we went from Egypt, to Palestine, to Syria, Iran and back to Egypt. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but our group of 12 tried desserts made from a type of root which can also be used as soap, learnt how to make falafel and ate ice cream with our hands. I’ve lived in the Middle East for five years and learnt more than I ever expected to. Wonderful.

ps. I’ve just noticed they’re number 1 for activities to do in Dubai on Trip Advisor. If that isn’t a recommendation I don’t know what is!

5. The Lebanese Kitchen by Salma Hage

This is the kind of book you open up and dig straight into. Some books I work my way through, and bookmark with post it notes and scribbles about the type of occasion on which I might make something. not this one. Book propped up, cupboards open, oven on. As I received this for Christmas my husband was bombarded in the first week of the new year with fresh, healthy, home-style Lebanese food. I didn’t hear any complaints. The book is well laid out. The recipes are not complicated, perfect for the beginner. As a Lebanese friend told me the other day- a Lebanese person would never refer to a recipe book, they’d use their mother’s recipes. Well for those of us without Lebanese mothers, this is the book to use. I particularly enjoyed the sumac crusted tuna. Recipes to come on here soon. And on that note, I’m off to my kitchen to cook from it!

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Listening to an English radio station through my new Nude speakers whilst editing at home, I wanted to share my excitement over my new purchase. Being home alone, I didn’t have anyone to tell. And then I thought of you! So please, indulge me. I’ve had guests for 7 weeks and now they’ve all left.

So without further ado, five things I have wanted to shout out about this week!

So I think I might be a bit slow to the party, but these are awesome! They wirelessly hook up to my iPhone and the sound is bang-ing! I have an ‘Amelia-Proof’ case around my phone and so it won’t fit into a dock without me going through the hassle of removing the cover. With these the phone can be up to 10 metres (in reality more like 5 around corners) away from the speaker. I’m so chuffed with these. I have music blaring from my phone at least 4 hours a day and now the sound is decent and LOUD (sorry lovely neighbours). Hooray!

For the next 21 days I’ll be reviewing and evaluating. Figuring out what rocked about this year and what sucked. Working out how I want next year to look. I’m SUPER excited about it. It’s not just about goal setting, but about figuring how you want to feel by the end of 2014 and how you can get there. Through a mixture of recorded interviews, phone calls, a workbook and online questions, we’ll figure this stuff out as an online group. I’ve been feeling a little lacking in direction recently, and this is just what I need to get me on track. Registration has closed now but Molly has courses running through the year and is well worth a look.

Our lovely aforementioned neighbours bought this for us when we dog-sat for them. There was really no need as we loved every minute of having Zura, a gorgeous, Bichon Frisé staying with us, but this candle is wonderful. It smells gorgeous and it CRACKLES like a wood fire! With the soothing sound of crackling, and the gorgeous cinnamon scent I feel like I’m back home in England with a pot of mulled wine on the stove…. which leads me nicely to….

This gorgeous novel is always my first recommendation when guests browse my bookshelf for books to read by their pool. It’s paints the most vivid picture of its characters, their homes and the colours that surround them. I was hooked from the first page. I always enjoy books where I feel that I’m learning whilst unable to put the book down. This taught me more about the San Franciscan gold rush than I thought I needed to know. A Dubai 7 stars to Allende!!

I’ve already referred to this AMAZING cookbook by Ottolenghi a couple of times on the blog (here, here and here!) but it is THAT good that it’s worth mentioning again. This would be a super Christmas present for any budding chef (or to yourself?) with an interest in Middle Eastern food. It’s extended my sights beyond Lebanese takeaway and for that I will be forever grateful. Thanks to Ottolenghi tahini has become as much of a staple in my fridge as tomato ketchup. Amen.